There was a time in my life when I was totally fascinated with the Kennedys. I was most fascinated with how Joe and Rose raised their children.
No, I'm not blind to the Kennedy craziness. From the bootlegging to Chappaquiddick - from "I think I'll get our daughter a lobotomy while Rose is out of town" to the somewhat risky behavior of racing down the ski slopes drunk and backwards and slamming into trees.
And, yes, I lived in West Palm Beach during the Kennedy nephew rape trial. (It was during that time that the "Ted Kennedy dress shirt and nothing else" style was popularized.")
So I get it. The Kennedys are flawed.
But aren't we all? We're all complicated and we all come from murky gene pools.
I feel very sad that another of the nine children of Joe and Rose Kennedy is gone. Eunice Kennedy Shriver is dead at age 88. She was the champion of special needs kids. She founded the Special Olympics. Her son, Robert, said "She never ran for public office but she changed the world." I agree.
Her son in law, the bodybuilding, multi-millionaire Republican movie star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said: She changed my life...by putting me on the path to public service, starting with drafting me as a coach for the Special Olympics."
Joe and Rose Kennedy taught their children that much is expected of those to whom much has been given. We've all benefited from this legacy.
Joesph Kennedy, Jr. died a war hero in WW II.
John Kennedy's short time as president shaped all of our lives in positives ways.
Bobby Kennedy, as Attorney General, fought the bad guys to the end.
Jean Kennedy Smith served as ambassador to Ireland for many years.
Ted Kennedy has been a senator for almost 50 years.
Sadly, we will be reminded if his great accomplishments all too soon.
Besides all of the other endeavors, the children of Rose and Joe had a huge number of offspring. Most of them are in public service.
So we'll continue to be blessed in many ways as the legacy lives on. Because much is expected of those to whom much is given.
***
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Julie and Julia
We saw this movie last night. We both loved it. Here's what I loved:
The way Julia and Paul Child interacted. They had a very healthy love life and they respected each other. They were a delight to watch. I hope Dave and I treat each other the same way. It's a very different style of relationship from the young Julie and her husband.
The way Meryl Streep is such a great actress that she can "act" really tall ever though she's only 5' 6". Julia Child was a 6' 2" force of nature.
The way Julia's book, "Mastering The Art of French Cooking" came about - after a decade of struggling. American editors didn't think the "servantless" American public was ready for intricate French cuisine.
The way Julie Powell's life changed through blogging. SO HAS MINE! I looked up her blog today. In the last part of the movie she learns that Julia Child (then 90 years old) didn't care for her (Julie's) blog. In today's blog posting she modifies that a bit. But my take on it is that Julia Child was 90 years old! Give her a break.
A couple of things I didn't like:
The way Julie treated her husband. Even after he left and came back. She still never said, "How was your day?"
The French cooking itself. The movie did not make me want to prepare or eat the recipes. They're all complicated and the first five ingredients are butter, butter, butter, butter and butter.
Butter is 100% fat. Just so's you know!
***
The way Julia and Paul Child interacted. They had a very healthy love life and they respected each other. They were a delight to watch. I hope Dave and I treat each other the same way. It's a very different style of relationship from the young Julie and her husband.
The way Meryl Streep is such a great actress that she can "act" really tall ever though she's only 5' 6". Julia Child was a 6' 2" force of nature.
The way Julia's book, "Mastering The Art of French Cooking" came about - after a decade of struggling. American editors didn't think the "servantless" American public was ready for intricate French cuisine.
The way Julie Powell's life changed through blogging. SO HAS MINE! I looked up her blog today. In the last part of the movie she learns that Julia Child (then 90 years old) didn't care for her (Julie's) blog. In today's blog posting she modifies that a bit. But my take on it is that Julia Child was 90 years old! Give her a break.
A couple of things I didn't like:
The way Julie treated her husband. Even after he left and came back. She still never said, "How was your day?"
The French cooking itself. The movie did not make me want to prepare or eat the recipes. They're all complicated and the first five ingredients are butter, butter, butter, butter and butter.
Butter is 100% fat. Just so's you know!
***
Monday, August 10, 2009
Marriage and Aging
Did you know that most young couples getting married don't have an in depth discussion about money and that younger people tend to marry financial opposites?
I did.
And they don't understand each others financial behavior.
I didn't.
Tightwads attract spendthrifts and visa versa.I was the tightwad. He was the spendthrift. I once wrote that "if we did only what I wanted to do we wouldn't have had any fun. If we did only what he wanted to do we'd been in jail."
This time around Dave and I are so alike that it's frightening. But beyond that we've talked through just about everything we can think of - including finances. (I like to think of both of us as frugal but generous.)
And we've tried to plan for just about any eventuality. My Oldies are having some big problems and it's made us even more aware of how important it is make intelligent decisions that affect us and our families while we still have our marbles.
Because if/or when we loose them it's hard for all concerned. My Oldies' (middle aged) kids are stepping up and dealing with serious issues but it's very, very difficult.
I hope my kids would be as patient and understanding with me when I start losing my fantastic physical and intellectual abilities.
***
I did.
And they don't understand each others financial behavior.
I didn't.
Tightwads attract spendthrifts and visa versa.I was the tightwad. He was the spendthrift. I once wrote that "if we did only what I wanted to do we wouldn't have had any fun. If we did only what he wanted to do we'd been in jail."
This time around Dave and I are so alike that it's frightening. But beyond that we've talked through just about everything we can think of - including finances. (I like to think of both of us as frugal but generous.)
And we've tried to plan for just about any eventuality. My Oldies are having some big problems and it's made us even more aware of how important it is make intelligent decisions that affect us and our families while we still have our marbles.
Because if/or when we loose them it's hard for all concerned. My Oldies' (middle aged) kids are stepping up and dealing with serious issues but it's very, very difficult.
I hope my kids would be as patient and understanding with me when I start losing my fantastic physical and intellectual abilities.
***
Profiling
A young Chinese-American journalist, in writing about the Professor Henry Louis Gates incident, commented in today's paper on a similar situation that recently happened to him.
Thomas Lee arrived a little before noon at a large company to do an interview with the president. He told the receptionist at the front desk that he was looking for the president's executive assistant.
"Oh, are you delivering food?" she asked.
OK, her response was totally inappropriate. But my guess is that it wasn't so much racist as it was because he was (and looked) young. I bet that if he'd been older, wearing a suit and carrying a brief case rather than an open shirt and backpack, she wouldn't have said something so dumb.
A few years ago one of my sons (who's always looked young) was asked, as an expert consultant, to fly to Boca Raton to meet with some heavy hitters whom he'd never met.
He didn't know they'd be meeting him at the plane so he arrived in jeans and t-shirt. There they were waving a card with his name on it. But when he walked over to shake hands they refused to believe it was him.
Some day this Chinese-American journalist will be happy that he looks younger than his years - and maybe even laugh when somebody thinks he's delivering take-out.
You can trust me on that!
***
Thomas Lee arrived a little before noon at a large company to do an interview with the president. He told the receptionist at the front desk that he was looking for the president's executive assistant.
"Oh, are you delivering food?" she asked.
OK, her response was totally inappropriate. But my guess is that it wasn't so much racist as it was because he was (and looked) young. I bet that if he'd been older, wearing a suit and carrying a brief case rather than an open shirt and backpack, she wouldn't have said something so dumb.
A few years ago one of my sons (who's always looked young) was asked, as an expert consultant, to fly to Boca Raton to meet with some heavy hitters whom he'd never met.
He didn't know they'd be meeting him at the plane so he arrived in jeans and t-shirt. There they were waving a card with his name on it. But when he walked over to shake hands they refused to believe it was him.
Some day this Chinese-American journalist will be happy that he looks younger than his years - and maybe even laugh when somebody thinks he's delivering take-out.
You can trust me on that!
***
Friday, August 7, 2009
When We Are Married
We saw the British period piece "When We Are Married" at the great Guthrie Theater last night. The thrust stage setting was lush, the costumes intricate and the actors were exceptional.
The plot is this: Three proper couples are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversaries only to discover that they were never legally married. Thus ensues two hours of arguing over things that aren't important - like what people will think. In the end they learn that it's all a mistake and they go back to the way they were when the play started. Bored, bickering and clueless about themselves and each other.
And, by the way, these couples who've been married for 25 years were made to look very, very old.
If I were redoing this play I'd make it contemporary and serious. Yes, people who've been married for a while do get complacent and sometimes forget how much they mean to each other. But the option of a do-over - or not, would be interesting.
Of course some couples do this symbolically by having a wedding renewal service, or doing something catastrophic like having an affair, thereby requiring them to decide whether or not they want to remain married - and why.
New beginnings, deep discoveries and commitments are always exciting. Even if they're with the same spouse.
***
The plot is this: Three proper couples are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversaries only to discover that they were never legally married. Thus ensues two hours of arguing over things that aren't important - like what people will think. In the end they learn that it's all a mistake and they go back to the way they were when the play started. Bored, bickering and clueless about themselves and each other.
And, by the way, these couples who've been married for 25 years were made to look very, very old.
If I were redoing this play I'd make it contemporary and serious. Yes, people who've been married for a while do get complacent and sometimes forget how much they mean to each other. But the option of a do-over - or not, would be interesting.
Of course some couples do this symbolically by having a wedding renewal service, or doing something catastrophic like having an affair, thereby requiring them to decide whether or not they want to remain married - and why.
New beginnings, deep discoveries and commitments are always exciting. Even if they're with the same spouse.
***
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Beer Deplomacy
Most of us enjoyed the culmination, in President Obama's back yard, of the Professor Gates, Police Sgt. James Crowley crisis.
We liked the jokes, the choice of beers, the wearing or not wearing of jackets, etc.
Everybody made mistakes in the break in incident . Nobody had to apologize. They were given a chance to come together where they could - with dignity. Like they discovered that they both liked fancy beers - but different brands.
Even the president made a mistake by using the word "stupidly." But people had fun with it. Several versions of t-shirts were quickly manufactured. My favorite had the words "I'm with stupidly" across the front.
I think the picture above is great! It depicts a microcosm of what's possible all over the world. People coming together where they can find common ground.
I was reminded of this again this morning when I saw President Clinton bringing home the two journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling.
To do this he had to meet with North Korea's reclusive (and some say crazy) leader, Kim Jong. What could they possibly have in common? Well, they both love Elvis. (I wondered to Dave if maybe they sat around in their Elvis outfits.)
Also, Kim Jong loves rock stars. Bill Clinton is a rock star.
But the important point is that vast differences were set aside, they came together where they could and the women were released.
As a part of this process it was good to see Clinton and Al Gore having a hug. They've not always been on the same page. But I'm sure Gore was grateful to have these journalists, who work for Current -TV, which he co-founded, home safe and sound.
All of this success - the professor and the cop and an international incident - with no bloodshed.
What a blessing.
***
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Wedding Ideas
By now you've all seen the video of the St. Paul couple who danced their way down the aisle. Most everybody loves it.
Except the local clergy persons who've been interviewed in the papers and on TV. They sound like real spoil sports. Don't they know that brides just wanna have fun?
At the risk of having you call me an old foggy - or worse - I agree with the clergy. The reception is the place to have fun. The wedding, if it's done in a religious setting, is a religious experience. It's solemn. It's serious. It's a lifetime commitment before God.
Yikes!
Here are some personal observations after several decades as a minister's spouse:
If a church has a long center aisle, brides want to get married there. They're not concerned about denomination or beliefs. "Just look at me and my girls as we come down that aisle."
My husband was asked to perform weddings on horseback, ankle deep in the ocean, in a plane and in various other places.
It's not all bad. But we need to remember that the wedding service is a sober, religious experience.
Well, unfortunately, not always sober!
***
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